Maintaining a healthy radiator is a vital prerequisite for the long-term health of your engine. If the radiator is damaged, clogged, or failing to cool your engine, your engine can quickly overheat and suffer serious damage. As your Honda dealer, we have the knowledge and parts for any level of radiator repair you might need.
Signs You Need a Radiator Repair at Your Honda Dealer
Rusted Radiator
Rust is the main enemy of most metal components. Once it starts, it will slowly eat away at the metal and destroy it. While this is a potential long-term problem for many car parts exposed to water, mud, or snow, it’s even more of a problem for the radiator. Your radiator is made from plastic and aluminum, and its health is essential for protecting your engine against overheating.
Your radiator is protected against water from the outside due to its position in your engine. The coolant, however, is a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze. Leaking coolant will burn off quickly in contact with the hot metal, but sufficient water will remain to start the rusting process. We’ll need to trace and repair the leak, then we have to replace your radiator. Once a radiator starts to rust, rust will always return, even if it’s cleaned.
Damaged Radiator Cap
The cooling system operates at high pressure and high speed to effectively control your engine temperature. The radiator cap’s job is to control the pressure in the cooling system. If the coolant moves too fast, this increases the heat in the system, and the pressure will rise. In this case, the cap will open temporarily to bleed off excess pressure and then close again.
The cap is subject to high pressure in the system, and this can damage the radiator cap’s seals. Worn or shrunken seals can allow coolant to leak out. If this happens, you’ll see signs of a leak as the coolant leaves white streaks behind on the radiator. Our technicians will examine the seals, and we can replace them if they’re damaged. This will stop the leak and prevent the loss of coolant.
Rising Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge on your dash allows you to see your engine temperature at a glance. The temperature will reach the midpoint of the gauge and should hover there. When you accelerate or drive uphill, the gauge will temporarily rise. It should fall back to the midpoint within a few minutes as the cooling system speeds and the engine temperature drops in response.
If your gauge is rising and shows no signs of falling, your cooling system has a problem. In this circumstance, we advise that you don’t drive but rather call us immediately. Our technicians will examine your cooling system to find and fix the problem and prevent damage to your engine.
Radiator problems can damage your engine. Call us right away at Tony Honda Hilo.
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